“It’s about bragging rights. What Gloucester did to us last season, we learned a very valuable lesson off the back of that.

“It really hurts to lose a derby game. For a lot of our supporters, it’s all about these games.”

Joe Cokanasiga has recovered well from the dead leg he suffered against Bristol Bears in round one and lines up on the left wing again. Freddie Burns has got the nod at fly-half, in a new half-back combination with Max Green.

Jacques van Rooyen - the prop who has joined from the Lions in Super Rugby - should make his debut off the bench.

“Last weekend was disappointing but it was a blip,” said Blackadder. “I know this week we’ll come out of the blocks really well, show our character and show the difference from where we’ve been to where we’re going.